The Wilmingtonian., 1887-02-26
The Sewerage Letter.


In the long letter addressed by a Favor
er Of the Col. Wsring system to the editor
of Ecery Erening Wednesday last, there are
several points that may be referred to, even
previous to tho Council meeting Of Thurs
day. The writer says -
"These walls, ccsspools aud vaults are all
more or less open and ieaky, and are, there
fore, constantly polluting the earth about
them, impregnating the water in it with
disease breeding filth, great part of which
inevitably finds its way into the Brandywine
and is s.pumped up into the city reservoir and
redistrlbuted as city drinking water. Some
of our good citizens say their wells have
never needed cleaning, and not few express
the belief that theirs never will. Any good
sanitary engineer will tell them that they are
gravely mistaken, and that they are storing
up for themselves and neighbors an unfsil-
ing supply of disease, which will surely show
itself one of these days in the form Of fevers,
if not in cholera or some other deadly cpl
demic."
We should like to get direct and reason
able reply to this question. How can fecal
or even fluid matter run up hill. Ninety per
cent of the drainage in question runs down
the general southern watershed upon which
the city is situate ultimately finding its way
into the Christiana. How then can the fe.
cal or fluid matter in such large quantities as
inferred in the writer's statements find its
way into the Brandywine, mounting the
high curb or ridge Of that gorge and CON-
passing other physical miracles. The asser-
tion applies truthfully only to the northern
watershed of the city, comparatively limi.
ted area. Let Col. Waring build his sewers
there That would be all right and needful to
protect ourdrinkiug water but surely the Race
| can never be affected by fecsl matter or sur
face drainage on this southern side of the
day goes or trends Christiana wards. The
need of sewer aud surface drainage north of
the ridge or comb referred to is no argument
| for building one on the southern side where
/ the surface and the earth is excellently well
served by natural physical conformation and
the absorbent powers of the earth.
The writer says also :-"Unlike tiood-wa-
ter or large sewer system it is free from sew
or gas, and is cleaned from trap to outflow
twice day, rain or shine, 40 that there is nc
time for decomposition, or the generation Of
noxious gasses. The practice Of the world
tends towards the essential features of Col
Warnings system. Even in Paris where the
older sewers are large enough to permit boat,
to pass through them with passengers, they
are now putting in Col. Warnings system
and bear cheerful testimony to the rationa
principles upon which it is founded. In New
York, here the work is carried on by th'
city itself and the newspapers abound in
scandals growing out of the wasteful man
agement of those in authority over it, th'
tendency is towards Col. Warnings system
J as not only more eff ,ieut, but as cheaper ant
better in every way"
, There are fine promises. 1t should 6
demonstrated not simply asserted that an.
! sewer pipes, or sewer system can be free o
t sewer gas. Also let Col. Waring produc
i his Paris aud European credentials, let hin
: show that they meet all the requirement
' and all the demands that may be ploperl
0 asked. question is does the Waring sy'
y tenn free the pipes of sewer gas by distribr
ting it into the atmosphere, or can it sho'
q any clear argument for the prevention Of th
4 generation OF sewer gas. There are oths
i questions of course, namely, those of flual
o cial nature but the above are the more in
" portant sanitary ones.